MLB betting preview (Aug. 15): Rangers vs. Blue Jays predictions
Photo credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
By Greg Warren
Aug 15, 2025, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 15, 2025, 11:54 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays will open a three-game series with the Texas Rangers on Friday at Rogers Centre after taking two of three games from the Chicago Cubs earlier this week.
Texas dropped two of three games to the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week and has just one win in its last seven games.
Let’s take a look at the game odds for Friday’s series opener between the Rangers and Blue Jays courtesy of bet365.
Rangers vs. Blue Jays odds
Rangers moneyline odds | -115 |
Blue Jays moneyline odds | -105 |
Runline odds | Rangers -1.5 (+155), Blue Jays +1.5 (-185) |
Game total | Over 7.5 runs (-105), Under 7.5 (-115) |
Date/time | Aug. 15, 7:07 p.m. ET |
About the Rangers (61-61 SU, 65-57 ATS, 51-69-2 o/u)
The Rangers need to turn things around quickly in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. They’re 3 1/2 games back of the final American League wild card spot currently being held by the New York Yankees, and they have the third-most difficult schedule down the stretch with a .521 SOS. FanGraphs is giving them a 16% chance of making the playoffs while also projecting them to finish with just 82 wins, well shy of a playoff spot.
Bettors should know that the Rangers have been terrific at limiting runs this year, leading the majors with just 3.6 runs allowed per game. Their pitchers rank first in ERA (3.32) and WHIP (1.15), and the team also boasts the top fielding percentage (.991) in baseball.
About the Blue Jays (71-51 SU, 72-50 ATS, 65-53-4 o/u)
The Blue Jays boast the best record in the American League (71-51) entering this series as well as an exceptional 40-20 record at Rogers Centre this season. They have an 81.4% chance of winning the American League East and a 99% chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.
Several key players are also on the mend and should help bolster the team down the stretch. Outfielder George Springer is rehabbing in the minors as he continues to recover from a concussion, and right-hander Shane Bieber is slated for another rehab start on Friday in Buffalo as he recovers from elbow surgery. It’ll likely be Bieber’s final rehab start in the minors before making his Blue Jays debut.
Toronto leads the majors in hits (1,116), batting average (.268), and on-base percentage (.337)
Probable starting pitchers
Texas: RHP Jacob deGrom (10-5, 2.86 ERA, 9.51 K/9)
Texas will send its two-time Cy Young Award winner to the hill on Friday against the Blue Jays in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The veteran right-hander is finally healthy after several injury-plagued seasons and throwing at an elite level again. However, he hasn’t been especially sharp over his last three starts, allowing 13 earned runs over 17 innings. In his only previous start against Toronto this season, deGrom tossed 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball while failing to record a strikeout.
Toronto: RHP Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.17 ERA, 8.62 K/9)
Bassitt has sizzled on the mound at Rogers Centre this year, recording a perfect 8-0 record with a 2.56 ERA across 13 home starts. He’s coming off a mediocre outing against a very good Los Angeles Dodgers team, which touched him up for three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. Bassitt hasn’t faced the Rangers yet this year, but the Texas roster has a combined .308/.384/.569 slash line against him in 65 career at-bats.
Notable injuries
Pitcher Chris Martin (calf), pitcher Jacob Webb (back), and outfielder Adolis Garcia (ankle) are on the injured list for Texas. Outfielder Wyatt Langford is day-to-day with a forearm injury.
Outfielder Anthony Santander (shoulder), pitcher Bowden Francis (shoulder), pitcher Yimi Garcia (ankle/elbow), outfielder George Springer (concussion), and pitcher Shane Bieber (elbow) are on the shelf for the Blue Jays.
Weather
Forecasts are calling for temperatures around 25 C and clear skies in Toronto. Winds will blow from right field to left field at 11 mph.
Rangers vs. Blue Jays betting trends
- The Rangers are just 24-35 on the road this season.
- The Blue Jays have the best record on the runline (72-50) in the majors.
- The Blue Jays have hit the team total over in 40 of their last 67 games.
Rangers vs. Blue Jays player prop trends
- deGrom has allowed two or more earned runs in three straight starts and eight of his last 10. He’s -145 to allow over 1.5 earned runs.
- Andres Gimenez has hit safely in six straight games and is -130 to extend that streak.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded over 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs in four straight games and 14 of his last 20. He’s -120 to exceed that number.
- Joc Pederson has great career numbers against Bassitt in a small sample size: 5-for-8, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2.167 OPS.
Rangers vs. Blue Jays best bet
- Jacob deGrom over 1.5 earned runs allowed: -140 for one unit (best odds @ Caesars). This line seems low given deGrom’s recent struggles. He’s 1-3 with an ugly 5.48 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break, allowing 14 earned runs in that span. The righty has also allowed two or more earned runs in eight of his last 10 starts, averaging 2.5 earned runs allowed per start during that span. Toronto, one of the better offensive teams in baseball, was able to put two runs up on the board against him in May, and I believe it’s worth paying the juice on the Blue Jays to at least replicate that performance again on Friday night at their home ballpark, where they are averaging 5.13 runs per game this season.